Foster Caring

Foster care is a way of offering children a safe, secure and nurturing place to stay while their family is unable to care for them. As a foster carer, you can choose from several different types of care placements ranging from emergency care right through to respite and longer-term care.

People from all walks of life can become carers. It doesn’t matter whether you are in a relationship, older, younger, with or without kids, working or at home – everyone can make a positive difference in a child’s life.

We’re dedicated to offering a supportive environment for both children and carers alike. This ensures better outcomes for everyone involved. Our home carers are trained, provided with access to comprehensive ongoing support, and reimbursed for any out-of-pocket expenses related to care.

Info Sessions

We encourage people considering foster care to attend a free information session in their area. Potential carers can ask extensive questions, learn about the experience, and speak with existing carers.

Foster Care Videos

A Conversation with a Foster Carer

What’s it really like to be a foster carer?
We talk with five different foster carers about their experience and how they make foster care fit with their lifestyle.

Foster Care is Rewarding

Why do people find foster care so rewarding?
Listen to why our carers love opening up their homes and hearts to children in need.

Myths About Foster Care

There’s many myths about foster care. Learn more about the myths and misconceptions of foster care and why these carers love opening up their homes to children in need.

Long-Term Foster Care

There are many benefits to becoming a long-term foster carer.
Find out why our carers Meryl and Andrea love supporting children on a long-term basis and how they make it fit with their families.

What is Respite Foster Care?

Worried you don’t have enough time to be a foster carer?
Discover how carers Melissa, Bronwyn and Garry combine weekend respite with their work commitments and busy lifestyles.

What Makes a Good Foster Carer?

What sort of qualities do you need to have to be a good foster carer?
Carers Meryl and Garry share what skills and attributes they believe are important when caring for foster children.

The beginning of having a father

“I approached him one day, after years of being in his care, and timidly asked if he would let me call him Dad, of course, his answer was yes. That is probably the moment that marks the beginning of me feeling like I had a family.”
Jesse, 19, describes how his foster parents Gen and John made him feel loved and appreciated.

Our Foster Home is where we belong

“The attitude of my foster parents throughout my care experience has been incredible. They taught me to not hate my past, but rather to learn from the mistakes of others and to come to terms with what has happened, and that which cannot be changed.
“They allowed me to decide what I wanted to believe, even if they saw things differently. Essentially, I was allowed to feel normal.”

I got everything from them

Foster Care is more than a home, it makes a huge difference to a young person’s life. Jesse, 19, Former Foster Child says his foster parents Gen and John gave him so much more.
“Whenever I am complimented on anything, my foster parents always joke that I got it from them, and while they are joking I personally believe that I did get everything from them. They taught me how to treat other people properly, how to live my life with respect and love, and even if I had had a natural affinity for learning, I would never have accomplished anything without their endless support, and their understanding of who I am.”

FAQs

First and foremost, carers require a commitment to the wellbeing of children and young people, an ability to be flexible, patience and understanding, a good sense of humour and an ability to work well with other people. We provide training for carers, to help them develop skills and learn about young people who have lived through traumatic experiences and troubled family lives. A good carer will be understanding of children and young people’s behaviour, and be patient and perceptive in dealing with their needs.

The primary aim of foster care is to provide children and families a secure, supportive and educational environment so that they can eventually reunite. Where this is not possible, the aim is generally to find a stable, long-term environment where the child can live (permanent care or adoption, for example).

Our foster care programs provide a safe and supportive environment for children and adolescents who are unable to live with their own families for various reasons. We also offer support for families in crisis, and families who have a child with a disability or developmental delay.

Carers may go ‘on hold’ or discontinue their care at any time. However, potential applicants are strongly encouraged to consider the importance of stability for children in foster care and understand the commitment involved in accepting a placement.

Casework staff are on-call 24/7. They are trained and available to provide assistance in any scenario that may arise during care. They can also refer children or carers to other services or training as required. We also offer carer support groups and training programs.

It is generally preferred that children are placed close to their current school, so they can continue with their enrolment. In most cases, the carer will transport the child to and from school. However, there is some flexibility and it depends on the needs of the child.

People are needed to provide all types of care, from respite to longer-term. People are also needed who can care for sibling groups to keep children from the same families together. Boys aged between 6-13 years of age are among the most difficult children to find foster care placements for.

Carers receive a tax-free fortnightly reimbursement from the Department of Health & Human Services. The amount of this reimbursement is dependent on the age of the child and the complexities of the care needs.

We offer four main types of foster care, with different support time frames.

Emergency care
This is where a carer provides a safe and secure home at short notice, often for just one or two nights in an emergency or crisis situation.

Respite care
This is where a child or young person is placed in foster care on a regular basis, usually for just one weekend per month or for up to two weeks during school holidays. It is often used to provide a much-needed break for full-time carers or birth families at risk of breakdown.

Short term care
Short Term Care can vary from a few days to a few months, depending on the needs of the child and when it is appropriate for the child to return to their family.

Long term care
Long Term Care lasts up to two years or more. In some circumstances the child or young person can stay with their carers until they turn 18.

People from all walks of life can become carers. It doesn’t matter whether you are married, single, older, younger, with or without kids, or in a same-sex relationship – everyone can make a positive difference in a child’s life.

Key attributes of carers include empathy, compassion, resilience, optimism, dependability, flexibility and willingness to work as part of a team.

To find out more about becoming a carer, fill out our online enquiry form or call one of our centres:

The first step is to attend a free information session. You will learn about the different types of foster care we provide, and about the support we offer our carers. You’ll then undertake a comprehensive training course, and need to submit the relevant paperwork. Finally, a staff member will meet with you to complete the assessment process. You may then be approved as an accredited carer. This process can take between three to six months.